Official Luthiers Forum!

I'd like to try to an electric upright bass, but other than assembling electric guitars from pre-built parts, I've never attempted to build one. I don't know if it would be possible to make one using a bolt on bass neck, or if I need to make the neck from scratch. I definitely want it fretless, but with lines. I'm not sure if I'd need (or want) a wooden bridge like an acoustic upright, or if I could use a regular electric bass bridge. I would also like to make it a 5 string, but I have never seen a 5 string upright. I simply have not had that much experience with electric uprights, but seems like it should be a relatively simple build, once I get the neck managed.

I guess I'm just fishing for information, suggestions, and ideas on how to approach it.

Here's one you could maybe get some ideas from.
Looks like some patent stuff going on.
Just do something completely different!
I came back here, noticed I didn't paste!
AAAHH!
http://www.messengerbass.com/

Hi everybody. I'm new to this forum. I have been making eubs for 5 years and they have evolved steadily to my current model. In the last year I've made an acoustic double bass, a compact acoustic double bass, a viola, and most recently an archtop guitar. I'm currently building another archtop. Most of my working life has been in the furniture industry, self-employed and working for bosses. I was born in Ohio, reared from age 10 in L.A, and have lived in Aust.since ' 81. I have dual citizenship.

I make my basses to feel like I'm playing 3/4 double. That way a d.b. player is instantly at home and someone who has learned on one of my basses, can go to an acoustic d.b. and feel at home. You won't need fret lines, side dots are more than enough. In fact, I don't put the dots on unless requested.

Sorry for the metric, I started to convert to imperial but made too many mistakes.

Your neck blank overall length should be 810mm. Of that, 160mm will go in a neck pocket. Your blank should start out 75mmx75mm, either one-piece or laminated. I'll give you the fingerboard measurements and then make the neck suit. These are standard d.b. measurements.
the fingerboard width at the nut: 43mm...........I also use 39mm,similar to a j. bass
the fingerboard width at the bottom: 88mm -90mm
the fingerboard length : 855mm
neck thickness (with fingerboard) an inch down from the nut : 40mm
neck thickness (with fingerboard) at the heel : 47mm
scale length1028mm -1070mm is considered 3/4 .I use 1050mm

Allow approximately 210mm on the other side of the nut for the pegbox.

heel placement is at d on the g string (most common) sometimes eb. on request I've done e and once f
See my site and follow the prompts to a build blog.

_________________
Regards from RangeView, Bill

Oh, I edited my response.
I forgot to put in the link.